An apparatus and a method for analysing a solid specimen material by means of ablating particles of the solid specimen material by laser into a carrier liquid, having: a specimen holder for arranging the solid specimen material covered by the carrier liquid, a laser apparatus for irradiating the solid specimen material to produce a suspension of particles of the solid specimen material and the carrier liquid, an analysis apparatus for analysing the particles, an ablation cell with the specimen holder, having a liquid channel for the carrier liquid and having an entry window made of a material that transmits the laser beam, a supply line for supplying the carrier liquid into the liquid channel of the ablation cell and a discharge line for discharging the suspension of particles of the solid specimen material and the carrier liquid from the liquid channel of the ablation cell into the analysis apparatus.